The former boss of Marks & Spencer is to advise the Government on how to turn around failing hospitals, the Health Secretary has announced.
Sir Stuart Rose will work on attracting and retaining top leaders to help transform the culture in under-performing hospitals.
Sir Stuart Rose is to advise the Government on the NHS. Credit: Press Association
He will examine ways to recruit talent from inside and outside the NHS and make leaders more visible to patients and staff, Jeremy Hunt said.
Sir Stuart, who left M&S in 2010 and is chairman of Ocado, will particularly look at the problems facing the 14 NHS trusts currently in special measures. He will not be paid for the role.
Sir Stuart said: "Clearly the NHS is a very different institution from M&S, but leadership, motivating staff and creating a culture where people are empowered to do things differently are crucial to the success of any organisation, and I'm looking forward to helping in any way I can."
Giant strawberries the size of an egg and big enough to share have gone on sale in time for Valentine's Day.
The Spanish-grown King strawberry is being sold by Marks and Spencer.
The retailer says the fruit is at least 30% bigger than the average strawberry, and sweeter, making it the "perfect treat for sharing with someone special".
King strawberries are being sold by Marks and Spencer across the UK. Credit: Marks and Spencer/PA Wire
The retail chain's fruit expert Bill Davies said: "These jumbo King strawberries are perfect for two, delicious on their own or made extra special by dipping in melted chocolate for the ultimate Valentine's treat."
The introduction of giant strawberries is part of a trend at M&S for unusually-sized fruit and follows the success of the tiny 'Tiddly Pomme' apple and the giant 'Satsumo' satsuma
King strawberries are available in stores nationwide now for £6.99.
M&S has suffered two and and a half years of falling sales. Credit: PA
Marks & Spencer suffered its tenth quarter in a row of falling sales in its general merchandise division as they fell 2.1% in the third quarter to December 28th.
He told Sky News' Murnaghan show: "I'm a free market economist, we operate in a free market. If these people want to come here, and work the hours they are prepared to work for the wages they are prepared to work for, then so be it.
"It's up to people to decide what they want to do. I think there are a lot of people who complain about their lot. Life is tough for everybody at times.
"I know people will look at me and 'It's alright for you' but I started off with pretty well nothing, I did a lot of menial jobs when I was young."
Primark hailed its "outstanding year" today after revealing annual profits had jumped by 44% to £514 million - contrasting the fortunes of high street rival Marks and Spencer.
Primark hailed its "outstanding year". Credit: Lewis Stickley/PA Wire
The retailer grew sales by 22% to £4.3 billion in the year to September 30 and the Associated British Foods, which owns Primark as well as leading food brands Twinings and Kingsmill, said it expected another improvement in performance in the current financial year.
The company paid tribute to Primark's buying teams after autumn/winter and spring/summer ranges sold out with little discount, while M&S struggled to kickstart its clothing sales.
Primark has expanded in the UK's major cities with the opening of a second store on London's Oxford Street and extensions to shops in Newcastle and Manchester.
They are also set to open their first store in France, which will be located in Marseille.
Marks & Spencer made progress with a strong performance in Food, International and M&S.com. Our key priority was the re-launch of Womenswear. In September we launched our first new collection with new advertising and improved store formats.
Although only in store for three weeks of the half year, our Autumn/Winter collection has been well received by customers, and we have seen some early signs of improvement.
At the same time we continued to invest in the long term transformation of the business. We are pleased with the progress made, given the high level of activity and a number of key projects launching this year.
This has led to a higher level of additional costs, which while planned for, have impacted short-term results.
Marks & Spencer's pre-tax profits dropped by 8.9% to £261.6 million during the six months up to September, with the retailer's star-studded launch of its autumn/winter clothing range hitting its figures.
Marks & Spencer's pre-tax profits dropped by 8.9%. Credit: Tim Ireland/PA Wire
The retailer also reported a ninth consecutive quarter of clothing and homeware sales being down and claimed that consumers remain reluctant to spend.
Like-for-like sales in its food business rose 3.2% in its second quarter, however, general merchandise sales dropped 1.3% between July and September.
Chief executive Marc Bolland said its revamp of womenswear was its key priority during the period, and is showing "early signs of improvement".
Marks & Spencer said that while consumer confidence appears to be improving that does not mean it translates into higher spending and added that it was cautious for the rest of the year.
A Marks and Spencer spokesperson said that it would be "inappropriate to comment" on the Daily Mail or the Mail on Sunday's editorial content and that the company had no plans to change their advertising.
Marks and Spencer said it has no plans to change Mail advertising. Credit: Nick Ansell/PA Wire
This comes as Labour activists have called on advertisers to withdraw their support for the papers over the article on Ed Miliaband's father Ralph and a Mail on Sunday journalist gaining entry to a private memorial for Mr Miliband's uncle.
